The Landlord Diaries – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Monthly midterm rental pricing can feel like a guessing game, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of The Landlord Diaries, we dive into proven pricing strategies that help real estate investors stay competitive and profitable with their furnished monthly rentals. Our guest, Kyle Driskell, Senior Solutions Consultant at PriceLabs, brings expert insights from one of the most powerful revenue management tools in the furnished rental space. Kyle has led pricing masterclasses nationwide and brings expert-level insights you won’t want to miss.

We’ll show you how to confidently price your rental by understanding your monthly expenses, analyzing local comps, and making smart, low-risk tweaks to maximize both occupancy and earnings. Plus, we explore how Furnished Finder’s built-in tools like the market insights, map search, and Listing Performance Panel help you price with confidence and avoid costly mistakes. Whether you're MTR-only or running a hybrid STR/MTR strategy, this episode will help you stop guessing and start earning more.

👉 List your property on Furnished Finder:
https://www.furnishedfinder.com/list-your-property
Use code LLD10 for $10 off new listings

FREE Pricing Worksheet

https://try.furnishedfinder.com/pricingworksheet/

⏱️ Time Stamps:

0:00 Welcome to The Landlord Diaries
2:00 Meet Kyle Driskell: His journey into pricing strategies & PriceLabs
3:30 The Pricing Struggle: Why most MTR hosts feel stuck or uncertain
5:50 Step 1: Know your monthly expenses & set a confident pricing floor
10:00 What’s a good occupancy rate for midterm rentals? (It’s better than you think!)
10:50 Research 101: Finding your “sweet spot” using comps & market data
11:50 Matching comps by amenities, location & quality: A Furnished Finder guide
17:45 Don’t let “analysis paralysis” hold you back, jump in & watch for pricing signals
21:40 Using PriceLabs tools to automate & refine your pricing strategy
25:35 Monitoring your Furnished Finder Listing Performance panel for feedback
28:15 Reading the market: Are guests telling you your pricing is too high or low?
29:25 How adding MTR to your STR strategy can improve occupancy & stabilize income
33:00 Why your fees and deposits could be affecting bookings
36:45 Final Takeaways: Simple pricing steps you can apply today

The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

Can you scale a rental portfolio without buying a single property? Yes—and today’s guests are living proof. Join us on The Landlord Diaries as we sit down with power couple Nate & Katie Lyon to unpack their rental arbitrage strategy for monthly midterm rentals. Katie Lyon, Marketing Director at Furnished Finder, brings over a decade of real estate and marketing experience to the conversation, while Nate adds an extensive background in marketing, operations and design. Together, they’ve built a 14-door portfolio mainly through out-of-state arbitrage in Iowa—leveraging Furnished Finder as the foundation for growth.

You’ll learn why arbitrage works especially well for 30+ day furnished rentals, how to approach arbitrage partners, run the numbers, structure leases, and find quality tenants like travel nurses, relocating families, and corporate professionals. Whether you’re new to investing or looking to expand, this episode is your step-by-step guide to midterm rental arbitrage.

👉 List your property on Furnished Finder:
https://www.furnishedfinder.com/list-your-property 
(Use code LLD10 for $10 off new listings)

👉 Explore MTR tools and resources:
https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources

👉 View Nate & Katie Lyon’s properties:
https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=katie.lyon8

👉 Furnishing your MTR with Minoan:
https://youtu.be/mc5IFRErgCk?feature=shared

📝 Free MTR Furnishing Checklist:
https://assets.ctfassets.net/8rvbu1uw8lem/4pKVOxeFmg0umMHL2vclew/0cfaabe735029d6f5181bb20cdf26aa6/Monthly_Rental_Essentials_Checklist_-Minoan-Furnished_Finder-.pdf

⏱️ Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Welcome to The Landlord Diaries
3:25 Why arbitrage + midterm rentals = perfect partnership
4:30 The Lyons’ first arbitrage deal (and why they started in Iowa)
5:25 The 3 key players in MTR arbitrage
6:55 Arbitrage vs. ownership: Pros, cons & cash flow differences
10:00 Why MTR arbitrage over STR arbitrage for property managers
12:35 Securing your first arbitrage partnership and tenant placement
14:05 The groundwork: Setting up your arbitrage business
16:15 Market research tips: Traveler types, pricing, and Furnished Finder market data
22:35 How to find and pitch your first arbitrage partner
29:10 Pro tip: How to make a confident first call to the property manager
32:10 Structuring tenant leases in arbitrage units
35:55 Why midterm travelers are the ideal tenant type
38:10 Marketing your listing like a pro (headline, calendar, pricing)
47:50 Why every arbitrage unit should be listed on Furnished Finder
51:05 Lessons learned & scaling tips from arbitrage experts
52:30 3 easy steps to start your MTR arbitrage journey today

🎯 Whether you’re a cash-strapped beginner or a scaling investor, this episode gives you a real-world playbook to succeed in the monthly rental space—without buying a property.

🔔 Subscribe for more landlord stories and strategies, only on The Landlord Diaries, powered by Furnished Finder.

The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

What do digital nomads really look for in a monthly furnished rental? After 2.5 years on the road, living in 10 different Furnished Finder properties, Chelsea Kimlel has seen it all—the good, the bad, and the never again. In this episode, she reveals the must-haves that make a property stand out, the common mistakes that drive tenants away, and the key listing details that stop a traveler’s scroll.

From Furnished Finder search tips to messaging mistakes, lease terms to storage space, Chelsea shares what makes a rental truly livable for monthly furnished travelers like her. If you want more bookings and better tenants, don’t miss this episode!

🚀 List Your Property on Furnished Finder:
https://www.furnishedfinder.com/list-your-property

(Use code LLD10 for $10 off new listings)

⏳ Episode Highlights:
 0:00 Welcome to The Landlord Diaries
 1:50 🚗 MTR Love Story: 2.5 years, 10 cities, and a flexible lifestyle
 3:00 🏡 Work-Life on the Road: Digital marketing & woodworking hustle
 5:00 📍 Strategic Planning: How Chelsea mapped out her travels
 6:45 💰 Budget Smart: Use FurnishedFinder.com/stats to plan rental costs
 7:55 🏠 Tenant Wish List: Must-haves vs. nice-to-haves in an MTR
 10:55 📸 What Stops the Scroll? Listing details that grab attention
 14:30 🚩 Instant Turn-Offs: What NOT to include in your rental photos
 16:10 🔎 How Tenants Search Furnished Finder: Optimize Your Listing
 18:05 👀 Red Flags for Travelers: What makes tenants skip a property
 21:05 🚫 Things That Don’t Matter: Overrated features for midterm stays
 23:15 🏘️ MTR Expectations: What should be included with a midterm stay
 24:10 ⚡ Utility Caps: Are they a dealbreaker? Chelsea shares her take
 25:20 🤝 The Furnished Finder Advantage: Why flexibility = more bookings
 27:30 📆 The Tenant’s Search Process: How far in advance do they book?
 29:40 🏡 What Tenants Want to Know About Landlords before signing a lease
 31:45 💬 Messaging Mistakes: Bad responses that lose potential tenants
 34:45 🔥 Chelsea’s Favorite New Furnished Finder Feature
 36:20 ✍️ Lease Terms That Build Trust and confidence in a rental
 39:10 📖 Ways to connect with Chelsea Kimlel

🎧 Tune in now to transform your midterm rental strategy! 🚀

Trending Midterm Rental Resources:
https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources  

Some of Chelsea’s Furnished Finder Stays:
Chicago: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/property/253523_2
Saint Petersburg: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/property/484432_1 
Lake Tahoe: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/property/472668_1
Sedona: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/property/533704_1
Texas: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/property/702785_1
Check out Chelsea’s Blog: https://www.chiefnomadicofficer.com/

Host Katie Lyon’s Properties:
https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=katie.lyon8 

Host Kelly Bailey’s Properties:
https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Kelly*|B. 

The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

With us today is Andrea Hendricks, infusion nurse, property owner and mid-term rental host in the Austin, Texas area. Andrea has established herself as a 5* host on Furnished Finder and has many tips on the ease of getting started in the mid-term rental space. 

In this episode we cover:

(Points organized in episode order)

• The w2 job as an infusion nurse
• The investment property
• Setting up a real estate contract without a realtor
• Learning from your mistakes
• Buying in a tough market
• Who are your renters
• The size of the property
• Valuable tools for your mid term rentals
• How KeyCheck makes your life easier
• Round table discussion about KeyCheck Leases
• Setting yourself up for 5* reviews
• The hospitality side of mid term rentals
• Landlording for MTR tenants is easier than you expect
• Andrea’s ending advice: Jump in and get started

Andrea’s Listings on Furnished Finder:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Andrea.Hendricks

The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

Today we talk with Jamie Banks, CEO of Radiate Real Estate. While Radiate is a rising star in the mid-term rental space, Jamie has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in processes. In her previous role at Fundrise, a large commercial real estate firm, Jamie managed 14,000 units across the U.S. She has already built some incredible systems for her MTR portfolio which will be the focus of today’s episode. 

Website Links:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ 

https://www.keycheck.com/ 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources 

www.radiatere.com

Jamie’s Listings on Furnished Finder:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Jamie.Banks16 

Typeform- https://www.typeform.com

Thryv PMS- https://www.thryv.com/ 

Baselane- https://www.baselane.com/ 

Loom- https://www.loom.com/ 

Canva- https://www.canva.com/ 

Turno- https://turno.com/ 

The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

Keeping July 4th in mind, we talk with Kate Homme today who is the Chief Growth Officer at Patriot Family Homes, headquartered in Chattanooga, TN. Patriot Family Homes is proud to be a veteran owned company focused on meeting the need for affordable, reliable housing predominantly near military bases in the South. The company is making big waves in the mid-term, short-term and corporate housing space with a 2023 company goal to acquire 1,000 furnished listings this year through acquisition, property management and leasing.

Website Links:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ 

https://www.keycheck.com/ 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources 

https://www.patriotfamilyhomes.com/ 

Patriot Family Homes Listings on Furnished Finder:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Amy.Wigley41 

The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

Yung Wei owns 13 properties, 5 of which are furnished rentals, 2 triplexes, a quadruplex and a mix of 1-4 bedroom single family homes.  

In this episode we cover:

• Growing your portfolio to 13 doors
• Yung started his investment journey w/ a 4 plex
• Lessons learned about the mid-term rental process
• The power of contingency plans and margins 
• It’s easy to toggle between MTR & STR 
• Yung has a great example of this! 
• Converting long term renters into mid term rental guests 
• Monthly furnished rentals reach a variety of needs 
• Supply management and leveraging your cleaners 
• Creating a 5* experience for your guests 
• Hospitality is a mindset 
• Ready for repairs? 
• Yung’s Furnished Finder favorites 
• State specific leases 

Website Links:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ 

https://www.keycheck.com/ 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources 

Yung’s Listings on Furnished Finder:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=yung.wei 

The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

Today we talk with FreeStand Home Solutions CEO, Bob Wilson, and President, Brandon Harris. FreeStands motto is to chase perfection and hold the team to a standard unseen in this industry!” Hear how Bob & Brandon accomplish this with their 46+ properties in the Chicago, Illinois area. 

Helpful Furnished Finder Website Links:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ 

https://www.keycheck.com/ 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources 

FreeStand Home Solutions Promo Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5S90SYZMdA&t=59s 

The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

Your Furnished Finder podcast host team, Kelly Bailey & Katie Lyon, couldn't resist the urge to see just how "in the know" ChatGPT is about mid-term rentals...

The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

Today, we have Dee Coulson in Kansas City, Missouri with us. Dee started Lux HighEnd Properties in the height of COVID  in an effort to provide safe, comfortable, luxury, all-inclusive flex-term housing to traveling medical and corporate professionals. Dee started out with one apartment suite and quickly scaled the business up to 14 units within 6 months. 

Dee's listings on Furnished Finder:
https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Lux.HighEnd.Properties 

The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.